As the sun sets on a plantation in Jamaica, a group of children gathers around Mr. Kwaku, eager to hear one of his fascinating stories. These tales come from Ghana, the land of their ancestors. But there’s something special about how these stories came to be shared with the world.
Long ago, all stories belonged to Nyame, the all-seeing Sky God. People on Earth were bored and didn’t know much about their past. But one clever creature, Anansi the spider, decided to change that. Anansi was a shapeshifter and very smart. He wanted to bring the stories down to Earth for everyone to enjoy.
Anansi spun a web that reached all the way up to the clouds and climbed it to meet Nyame. When he got there, he bravely asked the Sky God for the world’s stories. Nyame, sitting on his golden stool, laughed at Anansi’s request. He told Anansi he could have the stories, but only if he completed an impossible task. Anansi had to capture Osebo the Leopard, Onini the Python, Mmoboro the Hornet, and Mmoatia the Forest Spirit. Anansi accepted the challenge, hiding a smile as he left.
Back on Earth, Anansi grabbed his magic bag and got to work. First, he found Onini the Python sunbathing. Anansi teased Onini, saying he wasn’t the longest animal and looked shorter than a piece of bamboo. Angry, Onini stretched out to prove his length, and Anansi quickly tied him up and put him in his bag.
Next, Anansi dug a big pit on the path where Osebo the Leopard usually walked and covered it with banana leaves. Osebo soon fell in. Anansi pretended to help Osebo out, but as he did, he jabbed him with a knife. Osebo fell back, and Anansi wrapped him tightly in spider thread.
Then, Anansi heard Mmoboro the Hornet buzzing around. He knew hornets hated rain, so he filled his mouth with water and sprayed it at them. The hornets panicked, and Anansi invited them to take shelter in his gourd. Once inside, they were trapped.
Finally, Anansi had to capture Mmoatia, the Forest Spirit. She was hard to find, but Anansi knew she was lonely. He made a doll covered in sticky sap and left it in her path. When Mmoatia saw the doll, she tried talking to it. When it didn’t respond, she hit it and got stuck. Anansi wrapped her up and put her in his bag with the others.
Triumphant, Anansi climbed back up to the clouds. Nyame was amazed that Anansi had completed the impossible task and gave him the world’s stories. Anansi danced with joy, gathered the stories, and brought them down to Earth. He scattered them everywhere for people to share and enjoy.
Mr. Kwaku tells the children that Anansi’s stories have been passed down through generations, even after people were taken from Africa and enslaved. Anansi may be small, but he shows that being clever is more important than being strong. Kwaku encourages the children to carry Anansi’s stories with them, reminding them of the power of resourcefulness and storytelling.
Imagine you are Anansi, the clever spider. Write your own short story where Anansi uses his wit to solve a new challenge. Think about what creatures or obstacles Anansi might encounter and how he would outsmart them. Share your story with the class and discuss the different ways Anansi can be clever.
Use your artistic skills to create a comic strip that illustrates one of Anansi’s adventures from the article. Focus on capturing the key moments where Anansi uses his tricks to capture the creatures. Present your comic strip to the class and explain the choices you made in your illustrations.
In small groups, choose one of Anansi’s encounters from the article and act it out. Assign roles for Anansi, the creatures, and Nyame. Use props or costumes if you like. After performing, discuss with your classmates how Anansi’s cleverness helped him succeed in his tasks.
Draw a story map that outlines the sequence of events in Anansi’s journey to capture the creatures and win the stories from Nyame. Include key details and illustrations for each step. Use your map to retell the story to a partner, focusing on how Anansi’s cleverness is highlighted throughout the tale.
In a group discussion, talk about the moral of Anansi’s story. Why do you think being clever is more important than being strong? Can you think of a time when you used your own cleverness to solve a problem? Share your thoughts and listen to your classmates’ experiences, reflecting on the lessons learned from Anansi’s adventures.
As the sun sets on a plantation in Jamaica, children gather around Mr. Kwaku for a story. They all know he has many tales from Ghana, the land of their ancestors. However, what they don’t realize is how their ancestors came to possess those stories in the first place. Long ago, all stories belonged to Nyame, the all-seeing Sky God. People on Earth were bored and knew nothing about their history. But one creature decided enough was enough. Anansi, the clever, shapeshifting spider, resolved to bring the stories down to Earth.
He spun a web that stretched into the clouds and climbed up to confront the Sky God. Crouching at Nyame’s feet, Anansi declared that he had come to take ownership of the world’s stories. Looking down from his golden stool, Nyame laughed at the spider’s bold request. Nyame told Anansi that he could have all the stories he wished—but only if he could complete an impossible task. If Anansi brought him Osebo the Leopard, Onini the Python, Mmoboro the Hornet, and Mmoatia the Forest Spirit, then he could take the stories. Anansi humbly accepted the challenge, not revealing his grin as he scuttled away.
Back on Earth, Anansi grabbed his magic bag and set to work. He found Onini the Python basking in the sun. Anansi teased Onini, claiming he couldn’t be the longest animal, saying he looked no longer than a piece of bamboo. Enraged, Onini stretched himself across the bamboo to prove his length. Anansi quickly bound him tightly and placed him in his bag.
Next, Anansi dug a great pit in the middle of the path Osebo the Leopard usually prowled and covered it with banana leaves. Sure enough, mighty Osebo soon fell in. Anansi scolded Osebo for his carelessness but offered to rescue him. As he helped Osebo out of the pit, Anansi swiftly jabbed him with his knife. Osebo fell back to the ground, where Anansi wound him up tightly in spider thread.
Then, Anansi heard Mmoboro and his hornets buzzing. He cautiously approached them, knowing their stings could be dangerous, but he also knew they hated rain. He filled his mouth with water and spat it at the swarm. As they panicked, Anansi urged the hornets to shelter in his gourd, where they found themselves trapped.
Anansi had one more task: to capture Mmoatia, the elusive and mischievous Forest Spirit. She usually hid deep in the woods, but Anansi knew she was lonely. So, he made a little doll covered in sap and left it in her path. When she came upon it, Mmoatia spoke to the doll but became enraged when it didn’t answer. She hit the doll, and her small fists stuck to its sticky surface. Anansi wrapped Mmoatia up tightly and scooped her into his bag along with the other creatures.
Triumphantly, he climbed his web back into the clouds. When the Sky God saw that Anansi had completed the impossible task, he was amazed. Nyame told Anansi that he had earned the world’s stories. Dancing for joy, Anansi gathered them up, stuffed the stories into his bag, and descended to Earth. There, he scattered the stories throughout the world for people to share. And they did, Kwaku tells the children. Generations have continued telling and reimagining Anansi’s stories, even after being taken from Africa and enslaved.
Anansi may be small, but “cunning is better than strong,” Kwaku says, encouraging the children to carry Anansi’s stories with them wherever they go. Looking at his audience, Kwaku knows that Anansi will persist as a symbol of resourcefulness and resistance in the face of oppression, and a testament to the enduring power of storytelling.
Myth – A traditional story, often involving supernatural beings or events, that explains a cultural belief or natural phenomenon. – In Greek mythology, the myth of Persephone explains the changing seasons.
Spider – A creature often featured in stories and myths, known for spinning webs. – In the African folktale, Anansi the spider is known for his clever tricks.
Stories – Accounts of imaginary or real people and events, told for entertainment or education. – The teacher read stories from ancient history to help the students learn about past civilizations.
Earth – The planet we live on, often a subject in myths and stories about creation. – Many cultures have stories about how the Earth was created and how humans came to live on it.
Clever – Quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent. – Odysseus was known for his clever ideas that helped him overcome many challenges in his journey.
Task – A piece of work to be done or undertaken, often appearing in stories as a challenge for characters. – Hercules was given the task of completing twelve labors as a punishment in Greek mythology.
Capture – To take into one’s possession or control by force, often used in stories about adventures and battles. – In the story, the knights set out to capture the dragon that was terrorizing the village.
Children – Young human beings, often featured as main characters in stories and fairy tales. – The children in the story discovered a hidden world through the back of a wardrobe.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often told through stories. – The history book was filled with stories of ancient kings and queens.
Resourcefulness – The ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties. – The main character’s resourcefulness helped him solve the mystery and save the day.
